Birmingham is only the second UK airport to operate dedicated 787 scheduled services.

The twin-engine craft – dubbed the world’s most advanced airliner – entered into commercial service last October.

The so-called ‘green planes’ boast LED lighting rather than harsh fluorescent bulbs, as well as bigger windows, wider aisles and higher ceilings than the average plane.

Boeing also claimed the planes had cleaner cabin air, meaning passengers were less likely to become jet lagged.

The new service operates every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving from Amritsar and Delhi into Birmingham at 6pm and departing at 9.30pm - although the first flight out to India on Thursday night was about an hour late.

Jozef Lopuszynski shot these two videos of the airliner's first arrival at Birmingham and its depature

Birmingham Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe, said, “We are delighted to welcome this new service into Birmingham and to now offer regular scheduled services to Delhi and Amritsar on the fantastic Dreamliner aircraft.

“Air India has responded to the enormous demand that lies in our catchment area and we thank all the support received from the city, and indeed the region, to secure these direct flights.”

The West Midlands currently receives more foreign direct investment from India than any other region outside London.

Globally, the UK is the third largest recipient of Indian investment, behind only the UAE and the USA.

The Chairman of Air India, Rohit Nandan, flew in on the inaugural service and was welcomed by a delegation of Midland VIPs, including city council leader Sir Albert Bore and Sri VS Ramalingam, the Consul General for India in Birmingham.

Sir Albert said: “Birmingham has a proud reputation as a diverse city, with residents from the wider Indian subcontinent the fastest growing group, according to the 2011 census.

“It makes a great deal of sense for there to be a direct flight between Delhi and Birmingham, rather than just London, and so I am delighted to welcome the commencement of the new service.”